Columbus State Claims PBC Commissioner’s Cup

The Cup is presented annually to the best overall athletic department based on regular-season standings and select championships. The Cougars captured 88.5 of a possible 119 points available to them based on the number of sports sponsored. The .744 rating was .014 more than second-place North Georgia, the closest margin since 2010.

The PBC Commissioner’s Cup is determined by calculating the number of points possible to each school, given the number of sports they participate in, divided by the number of points earned during the year. Points are determined by placement in the final regular-season standings in each of the PBC’s 15 championship sports.

Columbus State is now the all-time leader in Commissioner’s Cup wins, breaking a tie with North Florida. The Cougars claimed the top spot in 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2010-11 and 2015-16 prior to bringing the trophy back home this season.

“With so many of our teams having had outstanding seasons, winning the 2017-18 PBC Commissioner’s Cup is recognition of our entire athletic department’s commitment to competitive success,” Director of Athletics Todd Reeser said. “Our student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff all take great pride in winning this award, and we are pleased and honored to bring it home to Columbus State University.”

Columbus State opened the season with a share of the regular season PBC championship in women’s soccer, however the Cougars were in fifth place in the standings after the fall semester.

CSU had a dominant spring semester, taking home the title in men’s and women’s tennis, while finishing top three in baseball, women’s basketball, men’s golf, softball and women’s basketball.

In total, 10 of Columbus State’s 13 programs that factor into the Commissioner’s Cup standings finished in the top half of their respective sports.

Columbus State’s success wasn’t limited to the conference level in 2017-18, with six programs qualifying for NCAA postseason action. Men’s tennis brought home the program’s first national championship, while baseball and women’s tennis each reached the final site. Women’s basketball, men’s golf and women’s soccer also reached the postseason.

The CSU baseball team is putting the finishing touches on the 2017-18 academic year at the Division II College World Series. The Cougars defeated Mercyhurst on Sunday and have UC San Diego on Tuesday night in their second game.